First Sunday of Lent - 2023

Some reflections for prayer on the First Sunday of Lent Gospel for the First Sunday Lent invites us to go with Jesus into the wilderness – not literally, rather into the wilderness of or our own minds & hearts. Like Jesus, we want our own integrity to be tested, to examine the true quality of our faith. What kind of believer am I? So, let us look at the three tests to which Jesus was subjected by the devil, which are the same tests we too must face this Lent. The first test: integrity, security of our lives, "my bread of life". It is said that we are living in the Age of Individualism – the “Me First Generation", the “What-ever-makes-you-happy” generation. That is “my truth”, and it’s my right to have what I need and want to make me happy. Jesus’ response: Truth comes from God the creator. The true goal of every life is to discover and pursue God’s plan for my existence. The question I must ask myself is what truth is shaping my life? What is my daily bread I seek and desire each day? The second test: proof; seeing is believing.  We are also called the Scientific Age. Sound reason demands proof. If religion is true, where is the proof? If God is, and God is love, why so much suffering in the world? Jesus’ response: believing is seeing. No human mind can capture the essence of God – but God will reveal himself to those who open their minds and hearts. Ask yourself, is the secularism of today eroding my faith? The third test: power & possession – “to the victor goes the spoils”.  We are also called the Age of Success. My life is measured by all my successes and the power that I must have to control them. Jesus’ response = wealth & power last but a few years – then death comes to everyone. It is said of our age that the rich are getting richer; poverty in the world is growing. But where is this leading us? History has some worrisome suggestions. Ask yourself: life is short, eternity is forever; where do I wish to end up?

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When the woman saw that the tree was good for food and delightful to look at and desirable for gaining wisdom Pride of the flesh (appetites) Pride of the eye (possessions) Pride of life (control) “If You are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.” “If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down. For it is written: ‘He will command His angels concerning You, and they will lift You up in their hands, so that You will not strike Your foot against a stone.’ showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. “All this I will give You,” he said, “if You will fall down and worship me.” ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’ “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’ “Away from Me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve Him only.’”

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"The first temptation is the devil tempted Jesus to turn stones into bread.  Well why does he do that and is that a real temptation?" >>> LINK <<<

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Fifth Sunday Ordinary Time - 2023

Catholic Answers website has an article entitled How to Respond to the “New Atheism”. The author is Trent Horn. He points out that the “Old Atheism” championed by Communism was not doing as well as atheist were hoping. Quoting Trent Horn, “Beginning in the 1970s, the philosopher Paul Kurtz promoted what he called “secular humanism,” which focused on promoting human well-being without religion rather than converting people to atheism”. Some atheist view religion as having some good to offer society, but the more militant sees it as the cause of today’s world disorders. Quoting Trent Horn again, “In 2004 American atheist Sam Harris, after reflecting on the September 11 terrorist attacks, published The End of Faith. In the book, Harris argued that religion is a form of mental illness and not part of a rational worldview”. How common it is today to see governments separating religious signs and symbols from public life, sighting that we now live in a “secular” society. Religion at best is a private matter. I mention all this as a way for us to connect in our time to Jesus' words in today’s gospel. Atheism and Secular Humanism are trying to extinguish the Light of religious faith. By claiming secular humanism as normal and rational and religion as superstition; and by discrediting religion whenever it has problems the New Atheist are at war with the “Children of Light”. “You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hidden. No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before human beings, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.” So what is it that makes us the Light of the World? It is the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, with His gifts and graces – beginning with our baptism. Consider the oil lamp. It has two main components – the base which is a reservoir to be filled with fuel – and for its top a globe which is transparent to all that surrounds it. When it is filled with oil and the wick is lighted a brilliant light fills the room. Just so with us – filled with the Holy Spirit with many charisms and graces, with wisdom and truth taught to us by Jesus – when set alight by His inspiration we become a true light, dispelling the darkness of ignorance of God’s truth around us. And the lampstand – it is our place in the world wherever that may be – there and then the truth of our faith is always to be with us shining for all to see and hear. We come here to Mass each week to have the light of the Holy Spirit replenished in our minds and hearts so that going forth our light will shine brightly. My dear brothers and sisters in Christ never let the New Atheism smother your light under its bushels of falsehoods. Here is the link to the article How to Respond to the “New Atheism” Here is a link to a chart showing the percentage of atheists per county.

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Fourth Sunday Ordinary Time - 2023

The Beatitudes are seen as a summery of the Jesus' teaching; an outline or index of the gospel. In anticipation of what is to come, this Sunday's gospel invites us to spend some time reflecting on the Beatitudes.      Often you will here it said that if God is loving, kind, and merciful why is there so much suffering in the world? In the Beatitudes Jesus does not deny the presence of problems in the world rather he shows how believers will triumph in the midst them.       To understand how our daily challenges can be called blessings we need to enter into the school of the Holy Gospels where the Holy Spirit unveils this mystery for us.      The following is an example of taking a Beatitude deeper into the gospel.  .

"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."

“If anyone would come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.  What will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul? For the Son of Man will come in His Father’s glory with His angels, and then He will repay each one according to what he has done. Mtt. 16:24-27

"Blessed are they who mourn, for they will be comforted."

Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that God will give You whatever You ask Him.” “Your brother will rise again,” Jesus told her. Martha replied, “I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.” Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me will live, even though he dies. And everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?” John 11:

"Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the land."

Then he said to them, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.” And he told them this parable: “The ground of a certain rich man yielded an abundant harvest. He thought to himself, ‘What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.’ “Then he said, ‘This is what I’ll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store my surplus grain. And I’ll say to myself, “You have plenty of grain laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.” ’ “But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’ “This is how it will be with whoever stores up things for themselves but is not rich toward God.” Luke 12:14

"Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be satisfied."

Then they inquired, “What must we do to perform the works of God?” Jesus replied, “This is the work of God: to believe in the One He has sent.” So they asked Him, “What sign then will You perform, so that we may see it and believe You? What will You do? Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, as it is written: ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.” Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I tell you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, but it is My Father who gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is He who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” “Sir,” they said, “give us this bread at all times.” Jesus answered, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to Me will never hunger, and whoever believes in Me will never thirst. But as I told you, you have seen Me and still you do not believe. John. 6:28

"Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy."

Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother who sins against me? Up to seven times?” Jesus answered, “I tell you, not just seven times, but seventy-seven times! Because of this, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. As he began the settlements, a debtor was brought to him owing ten thousand talents. Since the man was unable to pay, the master ordered that he be sold to pay his debt, along with his wife and children and everything he owned. Then the servant fell on his knees before him. ‘Have patience with me,’ he begged, ‘and I will pay back everything.’ His master had compassion on him, forgave his debt, and released him. >>> But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii. He grabbed him and began to choke him, saying, ‘Pay back what you owe me.’ >>> So his fellow servant fell down and begged him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you back.’ But he refused. >>> The master summoned him and declared, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave all your debt because you begged me. Should you not have had mercy on your fellow servant, just as I had on you?’ In his anger, his master turned him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should repay all that he owed. That is how My Heavenly Father will treat each of you, unless you forgive your brother from your heart.” Matt. 18:21

"Blessed are the clean of heart, for they will see God."

At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who then is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” Jesus called a little child to stand among them. “Truly I tell you,” He said, “unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever welcomes a little child like this in My name welcomes Me. But if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for him to have a large millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea. Mtt. 18:1

"Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God."

“But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you . . . . . if you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them . . . . . love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. Luke 6:27

"Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."

Look, I am sending you out like sheep among wolves; therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves. But beware of men; for they will hand you over to their councils and flog you in their synagogues. On My account, you will be brought before governors and kings as witnesses to them and to the Gentiles. But when they hand you over, do not worry about how to respond or what to say. In that hour you will be given what to say. For it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; children will rise against their parents and have them put to death. You will be hated by everyone on account of My name, but the one who perseveres to the end will be saved. Mtt. 10:16

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Third Sunday Ordinary Time - 2023

This year, in the Diocese of Hamilton the third Sunday of Ordinary Time will once again be observed as the Sunday of the Word of God - "Bible Sunday".   Pope Francis, issued "motu proprio" on September 30, 2019, the Feast of Saint Jerome, instituting the annual observance of the 3rd Sunday of Ordinary Time as "Sunday of the Word of God", devoted to the celebration, study and dissemination of the Word of God. Pope Francis describes it as a day dedicated to the Bible to help the Church (quoting) “to experience anew how the risen Lord opens up for us the treasury of his word and enables us to proclaim its unfathomable riches before the world,” For more information go to the Hamilton Diocesan web site. >>LINK<<

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